Posted: 9/26/2007 6:38:17 PM EDT
|
A month or two ago I stopped at a gas station to fill up the Dual Sport. I little black boy, maybe 9 or 10 yrs old, struts up and asks me "How much dat go" ME: "huh?" Him: "how much dat go?" ME: looking at his 5 siblings and the Mother "I don't understand what yer asking kid, can you speak Engrish (  )?"Him:"...uh ......" Mom butts in "he wants to know how fast it will go" ME: "OH!.... about 80mph, is that fast enough?" Kid: "dat be for workin' me" ME:  Tonight... I got a hankerin' for some yard bird on a stick (thats Fried chicken for you Yankees  )Black Teen cleaning the dining area: "What be that called" ME: "Huh?" Teen: "What be that called" Me: " haven't a clue what language you are speaking" Teen:  "What kinda bike is that, is it a dirt bike? Can you ride it on the street?"Me : Thinking Why the fuck didn't you speak english to begin with, do I look like I speak ebonics..... "I rode it here, didn't I?" Teen: "you gots some plates on dat?" ME: givin in ... "yeah, it is legal for street use" Teen: "what dat be for costin'?" ME: "new, 5 grand" I walk out the door not to give myself a headache from listening to him. SO the question is: Why do these young Black kids talk like a Yoda, who graduated top honors in ebonics? Who the hell is teaching these morons to speak? Are our public schools that fucked up? |
OMFG! 
|
If you've ever heard a conversation between people speaking ebonics, as the lines of communication break down and they cease to comprehend each other, the volume of the conversation rises in direct proportion to the degree of misunderstanding. For instance: "He say he feeeuuh be feeeuh go down stow an be gi-iunh sum feets fuh-th be brangin bak up in heah." "Who?" "He SAY he feeeuuh be feeeuh go down stow an be gi-iunh sum FEETS fuh-th be brangin bak up in HEAH." "WHO?" "I SAEED HE FEEEUUH BE BRANGIN SOME FEETS UP IN HEAH" "SHOOT, ION EVEUN NO WACHOO BE TAWIN', SHOO!" Translation: "He said he was going to take a walk down to the store, buy some pickled pigs feet and bring them back here." "I'm sorry, I didn't understand what you said, could you please repeat it?" "He said he was going to take a walk down to the store, buy some pickled pigs feet and bring them back here." (Louder) "I'm sorry, I'm still having difficulty understanding you. Would you say it again, please?" "I told you, he was going to bring pickled pig's feet over!" (Louder Still) "Nevermind, it's not worth it. I still can't understand you." |
|
I was in a meeting about a year ago with lots of people, including some execs, and black dude speaks up to ask a question and says, (with accent) "Well why don't we axe them what..." he pauses and turns off the ebonics switch... "Excuse me... I mean why don't we ask them what their requirements are for the project and then come up with..." etc. etc. Speaking ebonics may be a "style," and this example is very light, but it's unprofessional and can popup at the worst times. He was kicking himself later. Personally speaking, whether black or redneck hicks, parents shouldn't let their kids speak improper styles when it is so vast of a contrast. Accents are one thing, but speaking to where other people can't understand you is just begging for your kids not to advance in life as much as they could, until they kick that knack. If people want to get ahead in life, then start talking like it. Just my 2 cents. |
